The Award Goes to… Trophy and Engraving Store had two customers waiting to pick up their orders.
Marcus, the man in the suit, asked Ian about the trophies he was picking up.
“I’m picking up trophies for the ten-year-old soccer team I coach. We have an end-of-the-season party,” Ian said.
“What are they getting trophies for?” Marcus asked.
“Every one of them will get a different trophy. It’s their last season together before they go to competitive teams. So I’m giving them each an award for the growth I have seen since they were four.”
Marcus laughed, “Another give everyone a trophy campaign. No wonder kids are soft these days.”
Ian smiled and said nothing. Each kid grew so much over the previous years, and he would miss them. He just wanted something they could look at and think, “Remember when I was on the Whirly Birds?”
“I work in private equity,” Marcus said to Ian, even though Ian had no desire or interest in the conversation or curiosity about the man next to him. “We just signed a big deal. So I’m picking up our trophies.”
“What are you getting the trophies for?” Ian asked.
“We just completed a big deal. So we get a trophy.” Marcus said.
“Wait, you made yourself a trophy for signing a big deal?”
“We earned that trophy,” Marcus said. “It’s a crystal phoenix rising from a marble base because the deal we made almost died, and the company resides in Phoenix, Arizona.”
“But isn’t that your job? To complete deals?”
“Yes, and now we deserve a trophy.”